31 January 2025 – IOC President Thomas Bach was received by His Holiness Pope Francis in a private audience during a visit to the Vatican last week.

They discussed the power of sport to improve the world and particularly the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, in which the athletes from the territories of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team took part. This sent a strong message of peace and solidarity to the world. Before the Games, the athletes, including athletes whose countries are at war, made a call for peace, which the IOC had initiated. In the audience at the Vatican, the Pope joined this call for peace by the Olympic athletes.

IOC President Bach was also able to inform the Pope that the Refugee Olympic Team, in which His Holiness has always taken a special interest, was able to win its first Olympic medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The President also told him about the work of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which has already reached more than 800,000 young people around the world.

IOC President Bach thanked His Holiness for his great support and the many positive messages he has sent. Pope Francis commended IOC President Bach “for all that has been done for peace and solidarity.”

Finally, IOC President Bach also thanked the Pope for having included in the programme of the “Jubilee 2025” celebrations a two-day programme entitled “Sport Generates Hope”, which will take place on 14 and 15 June.